This play from Game 2 really tells you everything you ever needed to know about Russell Westbrook. He’s out of control, nearly loses the ball about four times and yet gets to the rim with two beautiful moves and a brilliant scoop to finish it. Near disaster, but in the end, two terrific points. That’s sort of the Russell Westbrook experience in a nutshell right there.
68 comments
Smokey :@gr8ball83
I’m just thankful he let KD and RW share a bit of the limelight during the World Championships. Very nice of him.
Haha
Ozarkhick :@DJ
7
Just curious – which cities in Mexico?
Dad lives in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Cousins in Mexico DF, Mexico better known as Mexico City, and my Grandfather who is a die hard Celtics fan, but likes the Thunder lives in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas Mexico. He says theres a bit of fan far there too, considering that its a small town i was actually surprise.
Smokey :@GB
You should send it to one of our out-of-state (or out-of-country) fans that doesn’t get to attend games.
Whelp, if you decide to do this, I'm a huge Thunder fan out in California.
It was fun rooting against the Lakers in my dorm, haha.
Anyhow, long time Daily Thunder reader, first time poster. I couldn't be arsed to make an account for awhile. This is literally the reason I became a Thunder fan. After watching Westbrook at UCLA for a couple years, he became my favorite college basketball player, mainly because the dude just ripped people apart with his athleticism. When the Sonics drafted him, I thought to myself "Christ, this team has Kevin Durant and Westbrook? Good foundation." Followed them through that first horrible season and reaped the rewards when I told everyone at the beginning of the next season that the Thunder really could make a splash in the playoffs.
This year, it's more than a splash, yeah?
Wow so we have a strong showing of love from south of the border too! My father and family in Mexico are going nuts for the Thunder. Apperently theres several places where a big group of supporters get toghether. Father said in the game 2 group the sports/bar had close its doors, it was a madhouse apperently. I love seeing support like that from out of the country! They more gear than i do, and i live right by the Arena. Makes me feel bad.
Kidd has been great, but I still think he's #6. The efficiency is great, but the numbers are small, especially for average ~33 minutes a game.
Dirk has the best +/- in each of their first 2 games, and he was so dominating down the stretch in Game 1. Dirk is also 28/30 from the FT line in two games, which is amazing.
@gr8ball83
I'm just thankful he let KD and RW share a bit of the limelight during the World Championships. Very nice of him.
Something to keep an eye on: The usage split between Russ and KD has become even more extreme. Russ has a USG% of 36.9 and KD's is 26.9. Some of that has to do with Russ' high TOs, some with KD being denied the ball in crunch time do to stiffer D. Will be interesting to see how this develops as the playoffs move along.
I agree that you should send it to a Thunder fan from out of state...like me. I'm pretty sure I'm the only Thunder fan in WV. I guess it kind of doesn't really count since I used to live in OKC. The wife and I had to move for school. We'll hopefully be back eventually but trying to represent OKC while we're here. @GB
ESPN has a fetish with awards, and more especially controversial picking of winners way too early.
@anonymous
Rose had to score 70+ points through 2 games (at home) to beat the 37 win Indiana Pacers. ESPN had to find a way to honor him somehow.
If I needed a list:
D12
CP3
Rose
KD
Special Consideration: Ray Allen (That 3 in game 1 was sick)
I needed a kicker for number five, because out of the top four I think it's kind of convoluted.
@anonymous
No, no... it's a running feature that David Thorpe is going to keep updating throughout the playoffs. He admits it's kind silly to start it so early in the article.
@AC
In two games: 16/25 FG and 9/16 from 3. 9 boards. 12 assists, just one TO. That's pretty phenomenal.
Its silly to do this after two games. That said:
My top 5:
D12
CP3
KD
Rose
Dirk
J Kidd hasn't actually played better than those 5. He's been playing great, and he's just been getting a lot of hype because no one expects this much out of him.
@Sammy
If the Magic had won Game 1 he could easily be the favorite right now, and if not passing CP3, a close second. Also, I think I'd put Bosh ahead of Dirk right now, not by much, but he's bailed out the Heat in a few important situations.
@gr8ball83
1. CP3
2. Rose
3. D12
4. J Kidd (he's been phenomenal)
5. KD (taking a hit for mostly deferring in game 2)
6. Dirk
7. Bosh
8. LeBron
9. Z Bo
10. Rondo
@AC
I wonder how much of that is true and how much of it just JR sulking. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get a DNP on saturday.
@Perkins Game Face
I think they have gotten worse after they had to pull the Ibaka one. They might be a little more afraid of being sued, and therefore have themselves on a tighter leash.
I want a Maynor shirt. Man, is he playing well.
@AC
If we get into any sort of comfortable lead in Denver in game 3, then there is no chance Denver gets their groove back. They are on thin psychological ice.
And I don't think I've formally introduced myself, I'm a long time reader, but today I posted my first comment. Nice to chat with you guys!
Props..
"speaking of, (and GB, i am not suggesting that you did this, you just reminded me of this fact) i went to the game on sunday, and when i got to my seat 10 minutes before the tip, the empty seats in my section were depleted of the shirts. i had to search to get my shirt."
Obviously If I stole the shirt, I wouldn't offer it here. We wound up with two extra tickets at the last minute. I thought about selling them at the last minute, but folks outside the arena offered $10 for a $30 ticket. So decided for that price would rather have the two shirts than the ten bucks. I would have given the tickets away if I knew someone who wanted them (but not to a ticket broker), but like I said. very last minute thing.
As to the towels they were given out at the front doors, not on the seats. Several of our friends complained about not getting them, but they missed seeing them at the front door.
http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_17901418
"The Nuggets had a team meeting on Thursday and Smith said the team didn't have "a pulse" as they regrouped at Pepsi Center.
"Just frustration, just really didn't have any life in there," Smith said. "No one was really into it."
YES!!!
@Kris
I could definitely see it looking good on women lol. If that's who it was made for then it's a good shirt. Not so much for guys in my opinion.
@innocent bystander
This is the truth.
Advice for the Oklahoma sports fan:
Please make sure your chip is planted squarely on your shoulder, and remember that being a partycrasher is fun!
Enjoy the ride!
@Bryan
They talked about the tip in because it was a huge missed call that turned the game. Are they supposed to ignore that? I don't think Lakers fans felt they were being slighted when everyone jumped on the terrible reffing in that Kings game 6 in 2002. Several media members picked the Thunder to win 60+ before the season began. I'd say we've been anything but underestimated and ignored.
Smokey :@Bryan
Let them snooze on us. The more they underestimate/misunderstand us, the better. I actually love the fact that these guys had to EARN every appearance on national TV or in large publications. We are better for it.
That’s why it would be righteous to win it all. Let them ignore THAT.
ya know that if we win the WCF, they'll be about a half dozen articles on the Thunder and several hundred on the Lakers:
* what happened?
* is Kobe Ok?
* how does the future look for the Lakers?
* can they rebuild to greatness
* etc, etc, etc, etc.
* yada, yada, yada
@Sammy
Most of the national media. But for some reason, ESPN broadcasts are noticeably dismissive of the fact that KD and Russ are tearing it up. They jumped at the chance to talk about that stupid tip in - as if it was the only reason the Thunder had a 1-0 lead - then failed mention it after the Thunder rammed it back down their collective throats.
Kris :@Perkins
Game Face
Nonsense! I’m wearing the Westbrook shirt at this very second and I’ve had several compliments on it, I love it!
+1
@Bryan
Let them snooze on us. The more they underestimate/misunderstand us, the better. I actually love the fact that these guys had to EARN every appearance on national TV or in large publications. We are better for it.
That's why it would be righteous to win it all. Let them ignore THAT.
Ozarkhick :
Drink Ozarka water and be like Westbrook.
Eat Golden Flake Potato Chips and be like Pat Jones.
You make the call.
you'll have to change your moniker to Ozarkahick
:)
@Bryan
Not sure if you noticed, but the national media LOVES the Thunder. If the Lakers don't make it, there's no team from the West they'd rather see in the Finals than OKC.
GB :
Speaking of wearing blue shirts during the game. I have an extra one from the first game. If someone can come up with a good way to give it away, I’ll donate it to the cause!
speaking of, (and GB, i am not suggesting that you did this, you just reminded me of this fact) i went to the game on sunday, and when i got to my seat 10 minutes before the tip, the empty seats in my section were depleted of the shirts. i had to search to get my shirt.
and the towels? totally gone from my section. not to mention, the old guy sitting next to me had 3...
c'mon thunder fans. stealing another thunder fan's free shirt and towel? very uncool.
@Perkins Game Face
Nonsense! I'm wearing the Westbrook shirt at this very second and I've had several compliments on it, I love it!
What is ESPN going to do when the Denver fails to make the trip back to OKC?
What is ESPN going to do if the Thunder make the conference finals, or the finals?
What on earth are they going to do when Rose has to come back to Chicago for game 7 against the Pacers?
What are they going to do if Chicago gets booted in the second round or, better yet, gets dominated by Russ and KD in the finals?
Drink Ozarka water and be like Westbrook.
Eat Golden Flake Potato Chips and be like Pat Jones.
You make the call.
innocent bystander :Russell’s secret: drinking and bathing in Ozarka water
I won't break my "no bathing during the playoffs" vow.
It seems ESPN could really care less about the Thunder. They really don't want to upset any of the established narratives; Rose is PG numeral uno; the Thunder aren't there yet; the Nuggets are better post-Melo; etc.
And where is the wrap up from all the Nuggets' whining? They cry like babies for several days and act they were robbed. Then, when the Thunder run them out of the building, it's like it never even happened - just like KD's 41-point playoff performance.
I'm really just going to stop visiting ESPN......
andrew :@Jax
Raging Bile Duct
If I tried to do that I might never walk again.
it's all that Ozarka water
;)
Not to diss Tree and Leaf but the DT shirts are getting worse. I wanted the NWA shirt for like two years before the trade happened but they were always out of stock. I think I'd still wear that shirt before I'd wear the playoff shirt or the Hustle Westbrook shirt......
Trackbacks
Headlines
- Serge Ibaka named first team All-Defense
- Report: KD reaches settlement in ‘Durantula’ lawsuit
- Derek Fisher fined $5,000 for flopping
- Durant finishes runner-up to LeBron for MVP
- Thunder-Grizzlies second round schedule released
- Report: LeBron to be named 2012-13 MVP
- Kevin Durant on Royce White: ‘Who is that?’
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